SHIMLA -12 January, 2026

Chief Minister expresses grief over fire incident

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed grief over the fire incident that broke out on Sunday night in Arki market in Solan district, in which an eight-year-old child was reported to have died.

As soon as the information was received, the Chief Minister instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Solan to immediately carry out relief and rescue operations. He said that fire engines were pressed into service besides fire vehicles from the Arki Fire Service, along with fire vehicles from Boileaugang in Shimla district, Banalgi in Solan district and the Ambuja Cement Company were immediately sent to the spot. The fire has now been brought under control and relief and rescue work was on war footing. He said that local MLA Sanjay Awasthi was present at the site and was overseeing the rescue operations.

Two people were injured in the incident and were being treated at the Civil Hospital in Arki. The local administration has been directed to provide them with all possible assistance.

The Chief Minister has directed that immediate help be given to the family of the deceased and has ordered the district administration to investigate the incident.

Sh. Sukhu prayed for the peace of the departed soul and for strength for the bereaved family to endure this great loss. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of all those injured in this unfortunate incident.

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State Government gifts chilgoza saplings to Bhutan, CM flags off vehicle

Strengthening the long-standing friendly and amicable relations between India and Bhutan, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged off a vehicle carrying Chilgoza (pine nut) saplings as a gift to the kingdom of Bhutan from the State Secretariat today.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that India and Bhutan share warm and cordial relations and this green initiative will further strengthen the bond of friendship between the two countries.

He said that Himachal Pradesh and Bhutan have similar Himalayan natural heritage. The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department would also provide Chilgoza seeds worth Rs. 5 lakh to Bhutan soon. In addition, training would be given to Bhutan’s forest officials on how to grow Chilgoza plants. A team from Bhutan’s Forest Department would soon visit Himachal Pradesh for this purpose.

The state government would involve local women’s groups in Chilgoza-based activities and provide them with financial support. Efforts related to Chilgoza cultivation and development would be further expanded.

The Chief Minister said that earlier also, 50 kilograms of Chilgoza seeds had been provided to Bhutan.

Chilgoza is a unique and highly valuable species of the western Himalayas. It is closely linked with environmental protection, biodiversity and local livelihood.

The Chief Minister said that the present state government was taking several steps to promote forest conservation and expand forest cover. As a result of government efforts, the forest area of the state has increased by about 55 square kilometers. This year, plantation work was being carried out on around 9,000 hectares of forest land under various schemes and projects, with 60 percent fruit-bearing plants.

To increase the green cover 600 hectares of plantation was being done on barren hills under Chief Minister Van Vistar Yojana and for forest protection and management, 2,019 Van Mitras have been appointed since 2019.

Schemes such as the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana and the Green Adoption Scheme were also being implemented for increasing the green cover.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania, Vice-Chairman of Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation Kehar Singh Khachi, MLAs Captain Ranjit Singh Rana and Malender Rajan, Chairman of the State Haj Committee Dildar Ali Bhatt, Advocate General Anup Rattan, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HOFF) Sanjay Sood and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

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